Developing New Imaging Approaches & Tools

NICHD’s Human Placenta Project supports research into real-time assessment of human placental development and function across pregnancy. Read about research groups that are adapting state-of-the-art imaging tools to assess placental function, shape, and structure.

Magnetic resonance imaging machine in a hospital room.

Developing New Contrast Agents for Early Detection of Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorders

Principal Investigators: Karin A. Fox, M.D., M.Ed., FACOG; Chandra Yallampalli, D.V.M., Ph.D.; and Ananth Annapragada, Ph.D.
Organizations: Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital
Research Focus: Developing highly sensitive liposomal gadolinium contrast agents to improve magnetic resonance imaging–based diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum disorders.

Learn more about research on novel and safer contrast agents for early detection of placenta accreta.

A healthcare provider uses an ultrasound machine on a pregnant parent’s belly as they both watch the screen in the hospital room.

Leveraging New Imaging Tools to Monitor Placental Dysfunction

Principal Investigators: Nadav Schwartz, M.D., and Daniel Licht, M.D.
Organizations: University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Research Focus: Developing novel imaging tools to detect placental dysfunction and high-risk conditions.

Learn more about research on new diagnostic imaging for placental dysfunction.

Close-up image of a healthcare provider using an ultrasound machine on a pregnant parent’s belly.

Using Wave Reflection Ultrasound to Assess Placental Function

Principal Investigator: John G. Sled, Ph.D., M.Eng.
Organization: The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Research Focus: Using wave reflection ultrasound for the early detection of fetal vascular malperfusion, which can lead to stillbirth.

Learn more about research on wave reflection ultrasound to detect placental disorders.

Graphical representation of a fetus in utero.

Identifying High-Risk Pregnancies with Photoacoustic Imaging of Placental Oxygen

Principal Investigator: Liliya M. Yamaleyeva, M.D., M.S., FAHA
Organization: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Research Focus: Using photoacoustic imaging to measure placental or fetal oxygenation to diagnose preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and other conditions.

Learn more about research on the novel use of photoacoustic imaging to detect high-risk pregnancies.

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